GENERAL CONFERENCE, TENTH SESSIONSummary of Fourth plenary meeting

Summary of Fourth Plenary Meeting (2 Dec. 2003, p.m.)

Agenda items 7-17,19

Burundi

Appreciated UNIDO’s assistance through the integrated, particularly post-conflict development assistance and revitalization of productive capacities as a recovery strategy with a clear focus on poverty reduction.

Requested further support to rehabilitate and develop its fruit and legumes processing units and fish processing sector.

Peru

Appeciated the efforts of UNIDO in setting-up technology innovation centres, particularly UNIDO’s support for value-added use of llama by-products.

Supported UNIDO’s activities in Eastern European countries in addressing the problems of cleaner technology and energy and welcomed the planned energy use and renewable energy workshop for Eastern & Central European countries.

Requested that IPs and CSFs continue to remain cornerstone of UNIDO’s TC programme formulation for the countries.

Lithuania

Referred to UNIDO’s SME Development Programme, to support a private sector culture in countries in transition economies and to promoting innovation in entrepreneurship development.

Welcomed the assistance available to promote the creation of local value chains in (local) development programmes and clusters.

Stated that Technology transfer, promotion and diffusion especially Biotechnology, Energy Efficiency and Information Technologies remains the priority of the country and requested for continued UNIDO assistance in this areas

Indicated that UNIDO should closely link its programme with that of the EU Entrepreneurship Programme of the European Charter.

Appreciated assistance provided through the integrated programme and mentioned that good progress has been made.

The Industrial Development Strategy (IDS) launched by Ethiopia recognized the private sector as a main engine for growth and development. In this context, UNIDO’s assistance would be required to further implement the strategy.

Stated that the priority areas of the are leather, textiles, agro-processing and SMEs and requested for UNIDO’s TC assistance in strengthening these sectors

Referred to developing MSMEs in the agro-based industrial sector, especially to support rural development and poverty alleviation in the country.

Emphasized the need for developing agro-based industries as a basis for industrial development.

Stressed the need for more inter-regional cooperation where UNIDO can play a role.

Stated that Ethiopia is benefiting from UNIDO’s investment promotion programmes and called for the strengthening of the programme and UNIDO’s continued support to NEPAD.

Requested further support in helping the country achieve self-sufficiency in food production.

Nigeria (on behalf of CAMI)

UNIDO should align its programmes to assist CAMI in developing their non-traditional sector, in particular for employment creation and productive capacity building through SMEs.

Stated that the main priority value-chains for CAMI include agro-food, textile and garments, leather and footwear, wood and woodworks, and building material value chains.

Informed that CAMI has adopted the African Productive Industrial Capacity (APIC) to facilitate increased productivity and have agreed to establish an African Productive Facility (APF) as a funding mechanism

Stated that all TC programmes to enable industrialization for Africa should be channeled through the NEPAD as adopted by the UNGA in a resolution.

Slovakia

Pleased with UNIDO’s TC programmes on CP and Renewable Energy and supports the cradle to cradle approach

Welcomed UNIDO’s support in the implementation of international environmental instruments e.g. POPs, MP, Cartegena Protocol etc

Stated that the POPs non-combution technology project is of extreme importance to Slovakia

Stated that CP Centres have been initiated in Slovakia and have implemented over 110 projects with UNIDO’s support

Colombia

Welcomed UNIDO’s commitment to support SME development in developing countries as a main strategy to address poverty alleviation and as an important contribution to the Millennium Development Goals.

Endorsed the Global Biotechnology Forum

Called for mobilization of resources to implement the adopted International Agreements, e.g. agreements reached in Monterrey and WSSD POI.

Invited GC11 to take place in Cartagena, Colombia.

Equador

Appreciated UNIDO’s SME promotion programmes to address poverty, sustainable development and growth in line with the Millennium Development Goals.

Called for full implementation of the WSSD POI

Supported the Global Biotechnology Forum

Reactivation of the productive sector, as a government priority, would require UNIDO further assistance.

Recognized UNIDO’s cooperation in the fish industry.

Supported the formulation and implementation of regional projects to increased competitiveness and enhance the productive sectors in the countries

Argentina

Supported and appreciated UNIDO work in Montreal Protocol and other international environmental agreements.

Endorsed the Global Biotechnology Forum to be hosted by Chile

Croatia

Stated that UNIDO has completed about 14 projects in Croatia since it joined UNIDO.

Informed that Croatia presented several project proposals to UNIDO of which three were chosen namely: use of Biodiesel, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Municipal Waste Management

Germany

Welcomed UNIDO’s efforts to promote cooperation with the private sector as essential for practical support to SMEs, in particular, for the process of industrialization in developing countries and proposed possibilities for cooperation with private enterprises in Germany.

Extended an invitation for the renewable energy conference, to be held next year in Germany.

Stated the Germany is supporting UNIDO programmes in meteorology, Renewable energy and private sector development

Switzerland

Stated that the cooperation between UNIDO and other international organizations notably WTO are quite important to achieving goal of sustainable industrial development in developing countries

Stated that UNIDO is well positioned to assist developing countries to gain access to international trade and new technologies as well as in quality control and standardization, and acquisition of technologies for meteorology development

Stated that UNIDO’s CP programme of priority to Switzerland which has funded several UNIDO CP projects in developing countries

Venezuela

Appreciated UNIDO’s TC programmes in elimination of mercury from Golf mining, establishment of innovative technology parks and business and enhancing export-import system in the country.

Commended UNIDO for the Global Biotechnology initiative and the Global Forum to be hosted by Chile.

Apprecited other UNIDO TC programme in CP and Renewable Energy

Supported promotion of discussions on issues on the international agenda notably poverty alleviation, trade facilitation and democratic governance.

Azerbaijan

Supported strengthening of SMEs to faciliate sustainable industrial development

Stated that Azerbaijan is mobilizing to diversify its economy and attract FDIs

Welcomed UNIDO’s determinedness to vigorously tackle the implementation of Decentralization / strengthening of UNIDOs field representation;

Recommended that the discussion on how to design the process of decentralization be based on innovative approaches and that it be open in terms of its outcome.

The reform efforts in this field should be in line with the broader deliberations of the United Nations Secretary-General on a fundamental reform of the UN’s local presence, expressed, for instance, in the Frechette Report.

However, one definite limit is imposed by the need for cost neutrality

Agenda item: 12 (c) – IP/CSF

Burundi

Joint communiqué was signed in April 2003 and at the same time IP was launched for rehabilitation of industrial production

Commitment of funds covers 9/10 of entire programme

Asked for support of IP

Announced donors’ round table in Brussels (mid-January 2004) on post-conflict

Russian Federation

IPs/CSFs have to remain the key tools for technical assistance

CSF 2003-2005 is a new step in the cooperation between Russia and UNIDO